FOUNDATION NAMES BUSH FELLOWS FOR 2012

(Saint Paul, MN – June 28, 2012) – Bringing awareness to tough public problems—from urban redevelopment and educational achievement, to sexual exploitation and health care—the 2012 Bush Fellows are eager to turn their bold plans into sustainable solutions that will contribute to the vitality of their communities.

In an effort to provide greater flexibility to those applying for a Bush Fellowship, the Foundation now offers several application periods through the year. The first group of 2012 Bush Fellows is:

Melissa Goodwin (Sioux Falls, SD)

Raymond Grey Bear (Fort Yates, ND)

Lance Hegland (Minneapolis, MN)

Beth Holger-Ambrose (Minneapolis, MN)

Janice LaFloe (St. Paul, MN)

Annette Sharon Lee (Foreston, MN)

Kristine Miller (St. Paul, MN)

Kalc Vang (West Lakeland, MN)

(Find details about each Fellow’s project at BushFoundation.org.)

“For nearly 50 years the Foundation has pursued leadership development as a strategy because it brings about such powerful outcomes—our investment in developing one person’s leadership capacity flows out to have a direct impact on the broader community,” said Martha Lee, manager of the Bush Fellowship Program. “As we’ve seen in years past, these newest Bush Fellows are starting conversations within their communities about needed change and are persevering through the inevitable conflicts that are part of citizens adapting together to their shared future.”

Several of the 2012 Bush Fellows will focus their fellowships on improving educational outcomes through better access to the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education resources that are vital in preparing students for careers, culturally specific early learning opportunities and the integration of creative thinking into school curriculums and community activities. Another common theme is community health care—one Fellow is planning to resurrect a traditional Native American ceremony to improve mental health and another is seeking to build better in-home support systems for individuals with chronic illness or disability, or who are aging. With an eye toward community vitality, another Fellow is striving to bring equity to the forefront of urban redevelopment. And with sustainability in mind, one Fellow is working toward a comprehensive, state-wide service model for sexually exploited youth. Finally, one Fellow will work to preserve the knowledge of Native American elders.

This first group of 2012 Bush Fellows will pursue their projects through a variety of methods including the arts and sciences, community building, stakeholder engagement, systems change and public education campaigns.

These new Fellows join the ranks of more than 2,200 Bush Fellows named since 1965. The Foundation’s focus on building the capacity of individuals to solve problems in their communities sprang from founder Archibald Bush’s belief that providing opportunities for people with energy and ideas would have great impact on the community.

The Bush Foundation will select additional groups of Bush Fellows in 2012. The selection process for a second group is currently underway, and Fellows will be announced in August. Applications for a third group are due July 9, 2012; Fellows will be announced in October. More information is available at BushFoundation.org.

About the Bush Foundation

Our mission is to be a catalyst for the courageous leadership necessary to create sustainable solutions to tough public problems and ensure community vitality. The Foundation was established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth, and today works in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area. Learn more at BushFoundation.org.